Manchester City survived a relentless Sunderland fightback to claim a dramatic 5-3 victory in an eight-goal Premier League thriller, moving three points clear at the top of the table with a perfect record.
City took the lead after just nine minutes when Enzo Fernandez curled a free-kick inside the near post for his first goal since his £125 million move from Chelsea.
Sunderland, however, refused to be intimidated and quickly found a response.
Enzo Le Fee produced a superb pass to release Brian Brobbey, with the Netherlands striker keeping his composure to slip the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma and restore parity.
The Black Cats continued to threaten, but City punished a costly mistake when Sunderland attempted to play out from the back. The ball eventually fell to Rayan Cherki, who calmly found the bottom corner to put the hosts back in front.
Again, Sunderland responded.
Le Fee was at the centre of another attack, splitting the City defence with a pass to Thomas Meunier, who unselfishly squared the ball for Brobbey to finish into an empty net.
A lengthy VAR review followed, but the goal stood, giving Sunderland a deserved 2-2 equaliser.
City gradually regained control of possession as the first half progressed, and they restored their advantage two minutes before the interval.
Antoine Semenyo produced a superb finish after Sunderland failed to properly deal with a cross from the right, sending City into the break 3-2 ahead.
Sunderland could not find another immediate response, while City came close to extending their advantage in first-half stoppage time. Erling Haaland, however, fired wide with the goal at his mercy following good work from Iliman Ndiaye.
The second half initially settled into a calmer rhythm, but City soon found another goal with an element of fortune.
Marc Guehi’s pass, intended for Haaland, reached Semenyo, who took full advantage and drilled a left-footed effort into the far corner to make it 4-2.
Sunderland once again refused to surrender.
Just two minutes later, Granit Xhaka’s clever pass found Nilson Angulo, whose delivery across the face of goal allowed Brobbey to bundle the ball home and complete his first senior hat-trick.
With Sunderland trailing 4-3, City attempted to slow the tempo and protect their lead through possession, but the visitors continued to threaten.
Donnarumma almost handed Sunderland an equaliser when he failed to claim a high ball into the box. Ruben Dias then made a loose touch, sending the ball back towards goal before recovering in time to hook it off the line.
The City goalkeeper looked uncertain again from the long throw that followed, but the hosts survived the danger.
City eventually settled the contest nine minutes from time.
Josko Gvardiol delivered a dangerous cross into the box, and Haaland slid in at the back post to convert and make it 5-3.
The goal was initially ruled offside, but VAR overturned the decision after confirming that Gvardiol had timed his run perfectly.
The goal also extended Haaland’s remarkable Premier League record, as he has now scored against every side he has faced in the competition.
For City, the victory maintained their 100 per cent record and sent them into the international break three points clear at the top of the Premier League, despite being pushed to the limit by a determined Sunderland side.
